EBA Communications

LINE's explosive popularity nets 30 million global users in just 10 months!

19 Apr 2012
Hong Kong, 19 April 2012 – LINE, the world's leading free calling and messaging service, has passed the milestone of 30 million global users, just 10 months after its launch. The announcement underlines the app's continuing popularity after it rapidly accumulated 20 million users in the eight months after it first became available in June 2011. Globally, LINE's sophisticated user interface, its group chat feature for up to 100 friends and its free voice calling service are the major factors that have driven its popularity. The addition of new products such as LINE's PC version, and add-ons such as LINE Card and LINE Camera, have also contributed significantly to the awareness and popularity of the app among users. The huge popularity of graphics features such as stickers and emoticons has prompted LINE developer NHN Japan to develop a range of free virtual stickers, giving users a fun and easy alternative to text as a way to express themselves, no matter what the occasion. "LINE has constantly added to and upgraded its features to deliver an even better user experience," said Cha Ji-eun (車知恩), senior manager, LINE Business Office, NHN Corp. "These efforts are paying off: the app is consistently ranked among the most popular on the App Store, and our user numbers have surpassed the 30 million mark. We will ensure that this success is sustained by continuing to provide new features that our users want, in line with our corporate philosophy of putting people first." Since its launch last year, LINE's rise has been little short of meteoric and the app is now being used by 30 million users from 231 different countries. Since the addition of the PC and tablet versions to the core smart phone offering, users can also use their LINE QR Code to sign in to the PC version without registering any additional details, and use LINE to communicate with ease whether at home, in the office or on-the move. Later add-ons have proven just as popular: LINE Card and LINE Camera are two of the most recent examples. LINE CARD was downloaded two million times in the two weeks following its launch in March, and became the App Store's most popular download in five countries, including Japan, Taiwan and Thailand. LINE Camera was also a success: the application offers more than 100 different photo frames and 600 fabulous stamps, including LINE's custom-created cartoon characters. It achieved a million downloads from Google Play in the three days following its launch on 12 April 2012 and was the top-ranked free photography app in 15 different countries. Since then, LINE Camera's popularity has continued to grow rapidly. For more information about LINE, please visit its official website http://line.naver.jp/en/. # # # Useful Links: http://www.nhncorp.com/nhnen/index.nhn About LINE LINE is a smartphone app which allows users to enjoy free calls and messages to one another, both nationally and internationally, regardless of which mobile network provide they are using. Launched in June 2011 by NHN, LINE has more than 28 million subscribers worldwide. It has also been ranked no. 1 in the free app category in Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, Macau, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Jordan, Israel, Switzerland and Turkey. LINE carries various unique features such as 'Translations Bots', an instant and immediate translation services, 'Shake it', a fun way of exchanging ids and 'Emoji/Stickers/Emoticons'. For more information: http://line.naver.jp/en/. About NHN Corporation and NHN Japan NHN Corporation is Korea's premier Internet company, operating the nation's top search portal Naver (www.naver.com), the leading online game portal Hangame (www.hangame.com), the nation's largest children's portal Jr. Naver (jr.naver.com), Korea's the first online donation portal Happybean (happybean.naver.com) and microblog service Me2DAY (http://me2day.net/).Starting from the two business pillars of search and games, NHN has rolled out a wide range of innovative and convenient online services that enable people to enjoy their lives. NHN Japan is a leading internet company, providing many services including: games; search/portals; media, and was merged with Naver Japan Corporation and livedoor Co., Ltd. in January 2012 (http://www.naver.jp). LINE is one of the services that NHN Japan produced, launched, and operates. While NHN Japan develops and enhances the service features of LINE, NHN Corp. provides all other offerings related to the business development of LINE, ranging from marketing and promotion to investment in technical support. For more information visit: http://www.nhncorp.com/nhnen/index.nhn. Copyright: © 2012 NHN Corporation. All rights reserved. NHN, LINE logo are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of NHN Corporation in Korea and other countries. Other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated. Features, pricing, availability, and specifications are subject to change without notice. Issued on behalf of NHN Corporation by EBA Communications For further information please contact: Adam Barty / Raymond Woo (EBA): (+852) 2537 8022 (email: adam.barty@ebacomms.com / raymond.woo@ebacomms.com)